One year to the day after we had to put down our miniature poodle Dusty, we came home today to find our dear, sweet OJ, (Kimelle’s Optimum Jive) bloating from gastric torsion. I rushed him to the vet where he died in my arms 10 minutes later. And so my prophecy came true. In one year I lost my 3 old men: Dusty (16.5), Dad (100.75), and OJ (15.5). Be careful of the words you speak.

I gave OJ this ghastly hair cut last weekend, and saved the hair to spin and felt. What a melancholy, precious task that will be, when I can bear it.

So very sad. But never mistake premonition for prophesy. Something prepared you for the eventuality; you didn’t bring it on.
Pets have such a fleeting time with us, and it takes a really callous person to get used to losing them. A philosophy I outlined in my first novel was that in place of sorrowing for the loss, one should concentrate on remembering the mutual joy that existed during the time they were with you.

Shawn Bird is a high school English teacher, poet, and YA author in the beautiful Shuswap region of British Columbia, Canada. She is a proud member of Rotary and a former Rotary Youth Exchange Student.